Marcelo Bielsa had described the trip to West Bromwich Albion as a stern defensive examination and, in the event, it was one his Leeds United side failed miserably. A destructive display by Darren Moore’s men was marked by second-half goals from Hal Robson-Kanu, Matt Phillips, Harvey Barnes and the substitute Dwight Gayle as the Baggies blew an exposed Leeds away. Albion could have won by a bigger, more embarrassing margin but four goals were ample as they recorded a first win in five matches to leap to fifth. They move to within two points of Leeds, who scored a late consolation through Pablo Hernández.

Bielsa named an unchanged side with Kemar Roofe, who spent four years at the Hawthorns, again leading the line. Moore, the Albion head coach determined to arrest a worrying slide down the table, tweaked his lineup, welcoming Kieran Gibbs back from injury and handing Robson-Kanu his first league start since the opening day of the season. At his pre-match press conference Bielsa reeled off the squad numbers of Albion’s front four – 10, 15, 16 and 19 – before labelling them the division’s most fearsome strikeforce. They lived up to that billing here. Gayle was only fit enough for the bench but the trio of Jay Rodriguez, Barnes and Phillips nevertheless rang rings round a wobbling Leeds defence early on.